party tools
how to stock your kitchen for better hosting
by Yee-Fan Sun |
1 234

When
the boy and I moved from Tucson to do a two-year stint in Scotland,
I grudgingly packed
up almost all of my beloved kitchen goods, throwing it into storage
while we went off on our adventure. I arrived in the UK with just the
bare basics for my cooking survival -- two pots, a frying pan, a mixing
bowl, some good knives and spatulas. (And, oh yeah, a waffle iron with
voltage converter. A life without waffles? Perish the thought.) My
kitchen supplies thus pared down, I was amazed to discover how it actually
was possible to throw together a perfectly delicious meal for me and
the boy, with just these few tools. But when we started having friends
over for get-togethers? That’s when I realized that while living minimally
had its good points, I sure did miss some of my precious stuff.

Sure, it’s entirely possible to get by in the kitchen with no more
than a few pots and pans, some basic cooking utensils, a few dishes
and cutlery. And if all you aspire to is the occasional nourishment
of your own belly, so be it. But for those of us nursing dreams of
turning our nests into party central, a few choice accoutrements will
make feeding guests much much easier, and more fun as well. Whether
you’re trying to figure out what to buy for your first pad, loading
up your wedding registry or looking to buy a good gift for a pal who
loves to play host, check out this guide to our favorite party-friendly
cooking tools and serve ware…

make itYour kitchen should already be stocked with some basic
tools and appliances
for procuring a tasty homemade meal. But if you’re planning on hosting
folks on a semi-regular basis, these additional culinary helpers will
come in mighty handy as well...

Mini
muffin tin: I am a complete and total sucker for miniaturized
versions of normal foods. Call me crazy, but there’s something
about making food baby-sized that automatically ups the sophistication
factor.

Regular
ol’ muffins and cupcakes and tarts? Perfectly tasty, of course,
but make them teeny-tiny and suddenly, they just seem that much
more festive. Which is why mini muffin tins are a must in my
kitchen, despite the fact that there’s really nothing you can
make in a mini muffin tin that couldn’t be made just as well
in a regular muffin pan. Mini
muffin tins just produce foods that are the perfect bite-size
portion for parties. No need to scour for special mini recipes
either; you can use any old muffin or cupcake recipe you like,
keeping an eye on things as they bake, as the only difference
will be a reduced cooking time. Mini muffin tins are also handy
for making mini pie and tart crusts (again, use your regular
recipe and bake until set) and mini cheesecakes. You can also
use the tins to make all sorts of cute bases for savory hors-d’oeuvres,
like wonton wrapper cups, tortilla cups, bread cups and more.